Blue Jays Considered “Front-Runners” For Melvin Upton

11:04pm: It seems that the O’s are next in line behind the Jays in the current pecking order, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter), with the Friars expected to make a final decision tomorrow.

8:57pm: The Blue Jays are considered the “front-runners” to acquire outfielder Melvin Upton from the Padres, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. The 31-year-old has been a healthy scratch in each of the last two days as the team looks to secure a trade, though skipper Andy Green noted earlier today that “nothing’s done yet,” as Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune was among those to tweet.

Both the Orioles and Indians remain in pursuit of Upton, according to Rosenthal, so indeed it seems that a deal isn’t quite complete. Prior reports had suggested that Baltimore was the likeliest landing spot, though, so it would appear that there has been some recent movement in the market as San Diego tries to find the best possible return for the resurgent veteran.

Toronto has been said to be seeking another outfielder to slot into the mix. As the Jays’ depth chart shows, the team currently features two left-handed-hitting options in Michael Saunders and Ezequiel Carrera, along with righties in center fielder Kevin Pillar and right fielder Jose Bautista. The versatile Upton, who has spent plenty of time in left this year and up the middle in the past, would make a solid fit with the rest of the unit. He offers value on the field and on the bases to go with a bat that has been above-average since the start of 2015, though his ongoing strikeout proclivity remains a concern.

While Saunders is in the midst of a breakout campaign and has hit southpaws with aplomb in 2016, he does carry typical (but not drastic) platoon splits over his career. Pillar has not been as dynamic at the plate as might have been hoped this season, as he carries a .260/.290/.382 batting line. And the superstar Bautista is only just returning from a toe injury, with that malady only adding to the pre-existing reasons (advancing age and declining defensive metrics) to limit his exposure in the outfield.

It is not clear exactly how a deal might be structured between San Diego and Toronto. Upton is earning $15.45MM this year, with $16.45MM promised to him for 2016. Rumors of a potential swap with the O’s centered around an exchange of similarly-expensive contracts — righty Ubaldo Jimenez would apparently head out west in that scenario — with Baltimore giving added value in a prospect package.

There doesn’t appear to be a player on Toronto’s books that is analogous to Jimenez, though just-designated reliever Drew Storen — who’s owed $8.375MM this year — could represent an offset, and the Pads could simply hold onto whatever salary is needed to facilitate both teams’ interests. While the Jays opened the year right near their team-record payroll, they might also conceivably take on more of Upton’s salary to reduce the minor league assets needed to make a deal. That could be easier to do for the 2016 portion of the obligations, as the substantial salaries of Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and R.A. Dickey will all leave the balance sheet after the present season.

As with the Orioles, the Blue Jays have also been said to have engaged the Padres on starter Andrew Cashner. It certainly still seems plausible that he and Upton could be packaged, or that they could be moved in separate deals. Regardless of how things turn out, the righty’s own availability would seem likely to factor into these teams’ decisionmaking process regarding Upton.

I think it’s a fair assumption he would start at least the majority of the time in the OF. Bautista right now is a DH playing RF and Saunders isn’t much better. Putting Upton out there and sitting Smoak (EE or JB at 1B) helps the offense and defense, and gives the Jays two excellent bench bats in Carrera and switch hitting Smoak. Jays may have decided pitching is too expensive this year and a cheap bat makes more sense.

This makes no sense for the Blue Jays. They don’t need another outfielder. Carrera is doing a good job as the #4 outfielder & they also have Pompey, who is having a good year in AAA. They need to add a pitcher and not waste their assets on another outfielder.

How do you get out of 54 OFers? There is 30 teams in the league x 3 Starting OF’s per team = 90 total.

Regardless, he has revitalized his career. The guy is playing Gold glove caliber defense in left, has 5 more home runs at this point in the season that his brother does who has always been the better player of the two. Not to mention he brings a speed dynamic to either club (BAL or TOR) that neither currently has.

Upton may not be a game changer for TOR or BAL. However, TOR may figure it’s ore worthwhile to trade Storen and a middling prospect to keep Upton than to risk him being acquired by BAL and having a Cory Ross-like pennant drive and/or post-season streak.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Cashner and Upton switching uniforms while they are here. Maybe Norris as well. Dickey, Thole, Pompey and Pentecost go to the Padres for Cashner, Upton and Norris. Upton becomes 4th OF, Carrera to Buffalo, Norris becomes back up catcher and Norris takes Dickeys place in rotation.

Bautista has insisted he’s not a DH (despite watching his obvious decline), and I doubt the Jays would force him there. But we will see. Doesn’t seem to make sense to me, and I don’t think Upton is such that they need to do it to block Baltimore.

” Upton in RF, Jose to DH. Edwin @ 1st and Smoak to the bench. Upton is a better defender than Bautista and would be more than a 4th outfielder in Toronto.”
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I was initially against the trade but this made total sense… The pitching market is not favourable right now and we should wait in the off season.. We still have Hutch and with Upton’s added power and speed should put us over the top if we have to go to that.

22.1mill until until 2021 is expensive tho.

Better bang for our buck in the off season or next deadline.. I just hope he’s improved his attitude from his earlier dugout scuffles in Atlanta and Tampa.

Hutchison isn’t the answer for Toronto. He is terrible on the road. He’s also given up 12 runs in his last 2 starts in AAA. If they are going through with moving Sanchez to the bullpen, then they need to add a starter. Hutchison won’t get the Jays to the playoffs

The Jays won’t force Bautista to DH. I’d also rather just bring Pompey up than waste assets & money on Upton. There are cheaper options out there than Upton is. Upton isn’t worth anywhere near the money he is still owed

Regarding Ubaldo Jimenez– the Orioles should just look to see if they can relieve themselves of that salary
a deal of Melvin Upton for Ubaldo Jimenez and Prospects makes much more sense than a Jays deal

As a Padres fan I’d love to see Upton moved. He’s having a pretty good year- on pace for 30/30 and has a reasonable OBP and the defense in left is fantastic. I hate the idea of Ubaldo – I think he’s beyond fixing and he’s expensive. But maybe a couple little pieces. It’s all about salary relief; Upton’s not going to be around when the Padres are good again.

Someone mentioned Pompey or Hutchison. Either one would be good, I think – it’s not going to be a huge haul unless the Padres take on Upton’s salary, but jettisoning Upton for whatever you can get is something a rebuilding team should be doing. Acquiring Ubaldo Jimenez is exactly the wrong thing a rebuilding team should be doing.

Literally anyone? Baltimore is one or the few farm systems seen as worse than the Jays and they are using this trade to try to unload Jiminez. As the article states Jays have nothing close to as bad as Jiminez

May in wasn’t a salary dump as much of a horrible player dump. He signed a 5 yr/25mil contract with SD. And average of 5 mil per year is hardly a dump. He was injury prone and that is the main reason SD got rid of him, never sure if he would be the same as his pre-signing showed… IMO

Upton is being traded for similar reasons to Maybin. National viewers perceive as a salary dump but Upton Jr. but it’s to create opportunity for the guys who may be with the Padres long-term. Upton now might be one of the few 25/25 players by seasons end. But Margot is already a better CF and leads the Pacific Coast league in OF assist and has 24 swipes of his own. Renfroe is mashing and is ready for a major shot. IMO they and Hedges are the Padres current top 3 prospects with over a dozen exciting options High A and lower. But both of those OFers are potentially huge parts of Padres OF 2017 and beyond and Jankowski wants to be an everyday player too. Both Renfroe and Margot should be up in September or sooner. Margot and Allen will probably be the two best major league players that the Padres got for Kimbrel. Margot has chance to be elite CF. Can’t trade Kemp’s contract but Upton has value once again and how expensive is he when teams consider compared to next year’s QO price for players? He isn’t overpaid if he puts up 2016 numbers or better for his new club?

Well, Maybin had a good year for Atlanta last season and is playing reasonably well this season for Detroit. His injury history is real although he was healthy last season and was hurt this year on a fluke spring training HBP. I don’t think he was the salary dump in that trade – that was Quentin, who made a bit more money and was immediately released and then retired.